Hostess shutdown hurts Utah low-income nutrition program

Thursday , January 03, 2013 - 3:57 PM

Contributed

SALT LAKE CITY — The Hostess shutdown did more than just cut off Twinkie supplies — Utah officials say it put a state-run nutrition program in a Wonder Bread bind.Officials say the end of the brand meant only two varieties of bread remained on the eligibility list for the Women, Infants and Children program. WIC provides vouchers so low-income women and children can get certain pre-approved food staples for free.

Utah WIC official Linda Schiele (SHE’-lee) says program administrators worked to get one type of wheat bread from Smith’s stores on the list. She said Dunford Bakers is also developing a new product so they can meet WIC standards.

Schiele says Utah appears to be disproportionately affected by the Hostess shutdown because its WIC list had been streamlined to include only three breads.